Scoop for separable fastener stringers



Jan. 3, 1950 L. H. MORIN SCOOP FOR SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGERS Filed April 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mw M f M mymon [OI/l6 Mae/N m m n A Jan. 3, 1950 V MORIN 2,493,308

SCOOP FOR SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGERS Filed April 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Z 005 HMa/r/N BY ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE scoor ron summers res-mm s'ramonas This invention relates to the construction of separable fastener stringers. More particularly. the invention deals with the scoop structure of stringers of this kind, and still more particularly to scoops of the double action type, whereby stringers may be coupled and uncoupled by sliders mounted to operate universally on the stringers, as in other devices of this kind. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the followin description when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views; and in which:

Fig. l is a side and sectional'view of a part of two stringers arranged in coupled relationship, and also showing a slider in section thereon.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one link or scoop as it would appear detached from the stringer.

Fig. 4 is a view showing parts of two stringers with engagement between two scoops of one stringer and one scoop of the other stringer, and showing a slight modification.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing a greater number of links, and indicating a curvature in the stringers.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing only a part of the construction and showing a modified form of scoop.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the scoops shown in Fig. 6 detached from the stringer.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing another form of scoop.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the scoops illustrated in Fig. 8, and detached from the stringer.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 8, showing another form of scoop and illustrating the relationship of coupled scoops in the sharp bending of the fastener; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the scoops shown in Fig. 10 detached from the stringer.

In the construction of separabl fastener stringers of the type employin double action scoops for the universal mounting and operation of sliders on the stringers, as is taught, for example, in my prior Patent 2,322,537 dated June 22, 1943, male and female couplings, such for example, as the knobs 22 and apertures or sockets 2| in said patent are employed to retain the links against transverse separation. Inclusion of these members or coupling portions materially complicates the construction of the links or scoops, and this is especially true in the smaller sizes of links orscoops employed in constructing the stringers.

Furthermore, where the links or scoops are formed by die casting dies and core members dis- 2 posed between the dies. these dies become intricate to form, and present problems from time to time in the production of the fasteners.

with my present link or scoop construction, I dispense with the need of forming separate male and female coupling portions in the scoops for keying them against transverse separation, by simply forming undercut socket portions on the other surface thereof to interlock with the socket portions of scoops of a companion stringer in coupling the stringers against transverse separation. At the same time, the more or less diamond shape contour of the scoop, as disclosed in the prior patent referred to, or other suitable contours, may be utilized in establishing the coupling between the scoops preventing lateral separation thereof, or in other words, the pull apart separation of the stringers.

It will also be apparent that in dispensing with couplings such as the knobs and sockets disclosed in the prior patent cited, and substituting the undercut structure of the present scoop, a much stronger coupling is provided between the scoops in preventing transverse separation thereof.

In Fig. l of the accompanying drawing, I 0 shows a part of one stringer, and H a part of the companion stringer to the beaded edges l2 and I3 of which are secured links or scoops l4. As each scoopis of the same construction, the brief description of one will apply to all. The scoops have mounting portions is arranged upon the beaded edges l2 and i3 and coupling portions l6 which project outwardly from said beaded edges.

The coupling end portion It has throughout the thickness thereof a longitudinal section substantially similar to the section shown in Fig. v1 of the drawing. The section in Fig. 1 being taken centrally through the links or scoops. This section forms an outer more or less diamond shaped head bounded by upper and lower inwardly contracted walls Hand l8, and correspondingly inwardly contracted walls l9 and 20. The contracted ends of the last named walls join, or are continuous with walls 2| and 22, which flare outwardly in the direction of the beaded edges l2 and I3.

The walls l1 and i9, and I8 and 20, where they unite in the high points of the diamond, form upper and lower projecting coupling portions 23 and 24. The associated walls is and 2|, and 20 and 22, form corresponding angular sockets 25 and 26, which are adapted to receive the projections 23 and 24 respectively of links or scoops of a companion stringer, as will clearly appear from a consideration of Fig. 1.

Each of the upper and lower walls, sockets and projections above described extends across or transversely of the upper and lower faces of the scoop, respectively, not in a single plane but each in at least two planes, the planes on the upper face being depressed in the center to form a central recess or valley (the bottom of which is marked 30) extending longitudinally of the scoop and the planes on the lower face of the scoop following the same general contour to form a central ridge (marked ll) extending longitudinally of the lower face of. the scoop. In other words, in this form the scoops are of a wide V-shaped cross section, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. As also shown in Fig. 2, the two halves or wings of each V-section taper outwardly from the center, this taper resulting in clearances, as at 29, between coupled scoops at opposite side surfaces thereof, thus providing for free flexibility or bending of the stringers.

As will be understood, the longitudinal recesses or valleys on the upper faces of the scoops, which extend throughout the major part of the length of the coupling portions, follow the contour established by the angular relation to each other of the upper walls l1, l9 and ii, and the similarly extending ridges on the lower faces of the scoops likewise follow the contour established by the angular relation to each other of the lower walls It, ill and 22. Thus the longitudinal recesses or valleys form socket or female portions, and the longitudinal ridges form male portions of the coupling between the scoops to prevent transverse separation while the described sockets and projections which characterize the diamondshaped heads form female and male portions respectively, which serve to prevent pull-apart separation.

In Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the projections 23 and 24 are arranged in vertical alinement as are also the sockets 2-5 and 28. The thick portions of the links in Fig. 2 represent the section taken through the more or less diamond-heads, whereas the thin portions of the links represent the section taken through the socket portions, as at 25 and it.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawingis indicated the slider 32 for coupling and uncoupling the stringers. The slider has opposed walls 33 and 34 joined by a connecting web 35, and the walls 33 and 34 have inturned flanges 36 engaging the mounting ends of the scoops, as in other-devices of this kind.

In Figs. 4 and of the drawing I have shown a slight modification which consists in simply providing on the side surfaces of scoops 31 notches or recesses 34 inwardly of the diamond shape heads 39, and substantially in alinement with the socket or recess portions of the scoops, for example, the sockets and 26 as shown in Fig. l of the drawing. This construction will produce thin portions 40 in the scoops which will be narrower in thickness than the remainder of the scoops, thus providing greater clearances, as indicated at 4|, Fig. 5 of the drawing, at side sur faces of the scoops for the flexure of the stringers as is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing. Otherwise, the structure of the scoops as seen in Figs. 4 and 5 will be the same as those shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

It will be apparent that the links or scoops may be die cast or otherwise formed independent of the mounting tape, and then afterwards applied to the tape.

Links or scoops of the kind under consideration are adapted for the use as double acting scoops for the mounting of sliders to move in any manner upon the stringers in coupling and uncoupling the same. In other words, it is immaterial in which direction a slider moves along the stringers to couple and uncouple the same. I have also 'found that links or scoops made according to the present invention are more readily coupled and uncoupled, or in other words, a smoother action is provided in this respect, primarily in that the knob and socket structure, as disclosed in the patent cited, has been disposed of.

Furthermore, positive alinement of the links or scoops of opposed stringers is maintained by virtue of the V-section, and the coupling provided between the recesses 34 and ridges 3i extend throughout the length of the coupling end portions.

Each scoop body, by reason of its substantially V-shaped cross sectional contour, may be said to comprise angularly disposed walls which converge centrally of the scoop and in alinement with the longitudinal center of the stringer tape to which the scoop is attached. The scoop body may also be defined as having a longitudinal channel on one surface and a corresponding proiection or ridge on the other surface, and these surfaces are further broken by substantially V- shaped projections and recesses extending transversely of the coupling end portions of the scoop and on both surfaces thereof.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing is shown a slight modification of the links or scoops shown in Figs. 1 to 5, which consists simply in providing one angularly extending side portion 42 common in all respects to one side of the scoops shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and a straight side portion 43 which may be said to be arranged perpendicularly to the side surface of the stringer tape 44, or in accordance with conventional scoop constructions. In Fig. 'l' of the drawing is shown a perspective view of one of the scoops detached with respect to the stringer tape or support. Each scoop has projections 45 and 44 inwardly of which are sockets 41 and 4! similar in all respects to the projections 23 and 24, and sockets "and 28. In other Words the structure of the scoops shown in Figs. 6 and 'l is substantially identical to the scoop shown in Figs. '1 to 3, aside from the different relationship of the side portions 42 and 43 with respect to'each other. The only other difference being that the outer ends of the scoops shown in Figs. 6 and 7 have flat narrow surfaces 4!. With the scoops shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a longitudinal valley or depression 50 is formed at the upper surface of the scoops, and a corresponding ridge ii at the lower surface thereof similar to the valley SI and the ridge II.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawing is shown another modification which differs from the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive in the fact that the side portions of the scoop have convexly curved upper surfaces 52, and concaved lower surfaces 53, instead of the straight surfaces, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. With this structure, the scoops have the upper valleys 54 similar to the valleys all, and the lower ridges 55 simil'ar to the ridges 3|. As the scoops shown in Figs. 8 and 9 are otherwise of the same structure as the scoops shown in Fig. 3, no further detailed description is necessary, except in stating that the outer coupling ends of the scoop terminate in flat narrow bands 56, as with the structure shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing.

In Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawing is shown a further modification of scoop structure, wherein each scoop instead of having angularly extending walls at opposite sides thereof, the so called valleys and ridges comprise transversely concaved upper surfaces 51, and convexed lower surfaces 54 which form the equivalent of the valley asses and ridge structure, with the exception that these structures in this sense may more definitely be described as rounded projections and curved sockets which fit one within the other to provide the equivalent of a ball and socket structure. The engaging curved surfaces of adjacent scoops have the ball and socket coupling only in a direction transversely of the coupling end portions of the scoops, and not in the true spherical or semisphe'rical sense. This structure, however, provides for the free and sharp bending or folding of the stringer tape 59 to which the scoops are attached, in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. of the drawing.

With the scoop structure as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, upper and lower surfaces are provided with the projections 60 and BI, inwardly of which are sockets 62 and 63, again similar to the projections 23 and 24, and sockets 25 and 26, except that the projections and sockets have continuous transverse curves consistent with the curvatures of the surfaces 51 and 58.

With the structure shown in the perspective views of Figs. 7 and 9, it will be apparent that the scoops may be recessed, as at 38 in Fig. 4, to terminate the side surfaces of the outer coupling ends of the scoops .in more or less diiamond shaped surfaces or heads, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

It will also be understood from a consideration of Fig. 10 of the drawing that clearance as provided between coupled scoops, as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 8, is not essential in that the coupled scoops as illustrated in Fig. 10 have the so called ball and socket coupling which compensates for a much sharper bending than would be possible with the structure shown in the other figures.

The cooperating surfaces 51 and 53 provide for I the free relative movement of coupled scoops one upon the other.

From all of the structures shown, it will appear that a longitudinal channel is formed centrally and longitudinally of the coupling end portions of one surface of each scoop, whereas a corresponding longitudinal projection or ridge is formed longitudinally of the other or opposed surface of each scoop. In all forms of scoops disclosed, the outer ends of the coupling end portions have the thicker construction extending through the projections, whereas inwardly of these projections the recessed portions form the thinner cross section of the scoops, as will clearly appear from a consideration of Figs. 2, 6, 8 and 10 of the drawing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A separable fastener stringer comprising a tape having secured to one edge thereof a pinrality of identical, spaced scoops, each including a mounting portion embracing the tape edge and a coupling portion projecting clear of the tape edge, each scoop characterized by having: a V- shaped transverse section throughout the length of both said portions; the subtended angle of the valley so formed on one face of the scoop being greater than the subtended angle of the ridge 0n the Opposite face of the scoop; a neck portion of a thickness, lengthwise of the stringer, which is less than that of the mounting portion of the scoop; said neck portion being formed by opposed, V-shaped grooves extending transversely of the scoop, one on the upper and one on the lower face thereof, adjacent but clear oi. the tape edge and spaced from the free end of the scoop; the

bottoms of the said grooves following the contour of the V-shaped transverse section 01' the scoop; the reduced neck portion, at the remote ends of the said grooves, terminating short of the side faces both of the mounting portion of the scoop and of the free end of the scoop; the said free end of the scoop terminating in a tapered nose and the said side faces both of the mounting portion and of the free end portion of the scoop consisting essentially of flat surfaces parallel to the plane of the tape.

2. A separable fastener stringer comprising a tape having securedto one edge thereof a plurality of identical, spaced scoops, each including a mounting portion embracing the tape edge and a coupling portion projecting clear of the tape edge, each scoop characterized by having: a V- shaped transverse section throughout the length of both said portions; the subtended angle of the valley so formed on one face of the scoop being greater than the subtended angle of the ridge on the opposite face of the scoop; a neck portion of a thickness. lengthwise of the stringer, which is less than that of the mounting portion of the scoop; said neck portion being formed by opposed, V-shaped grooves extending transversely of the scoop, one on the upper and one on the lower face thereof, adjacent but clear of the tape edge and spaced from the free end of the scoop; the bottoms of the said grooves following the contour of the V-shaped transverse section of the scoop; the reduced neck portion, at the remote ends of the said grooves, terminating short of the side faces both of the mounting portion of the scoop and of the free end of the scoop.

3. A separable fastener stringer comprising a tape having secured to one edge thereof a plurality of identical, spaced scoops, each including a mounting portion embracing the tape edge and a coupling portion projecting clear of the tape edge,

each scoop characterized by having: a V-shapedtransverse section throughout the length of both said portions; the subtended angle of the valley so formed on one face of the scoop being greater 4 than the subtended angle of the ridge on the opposite face of the scoop; a neck portion of a thickness, lengthwise of the stringer, which is less than that or the mounting portion of the scoop; said neck portion being formed by opposed,

5 V-shaped grooves extending transversely of the scoop, oneon the upper and one on the lower face thereof, adjacent but clear of the tape edge and spaced from the free end of the scoop; the bottoms of the said grooves following the contour u of the V-shaped transverse section of the scoop;

and the said free end of the scoop terminating in a tapered nose.

LOUIS H. MORIN.

/ REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the his of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

